Baseball base



June 22, 1937. H. E. OREFICE 2,084,775

BASEBALL BASE Fild Feb. 16, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l f r o (I I 7 [I f I i I l l l L l .l

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BASEBALL BASE Filed Feb. 16, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor fie rierfz 02- z c e By x :1 fiorneys Patented June 22, 1937 hrilhhii @FFEQE BASEBALL BASE Herbert E. Orefice, Hartford, Conn.

Application February 16, 1937, Serial No. 126,070

3 Claims.

This invention relates to what are known in the art as bases forming part of the apparatus for playing baseball and an object of the present invention is to provide a base of this character so equipped as to permit the anchoring of the base in position on the ground so it will not be moved out of place as now results from a baseball player stepping on or sliding into the base.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure l is a top plan View of the complete base.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a plate forming part of the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the plate.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken sub stantially on the line li of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a second plate forming part of the invention.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 65 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a plan view of a cover member filled sack forming part of the base.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a cover plate.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that my improved baseball base comprises a plate 5 that is of the usual dimension of a baseball base and is provided in each of the four corners thereof with a spike 6 adapted to be driven into the ground for anchoring the plate 5 in position.

At the center thereof the plate 5 is provided with an opening I and a depending flange 8 which latter is received within the recess Illa provided therefor in the ground H) as shown in Figure 4.

For disposition on the plate 5 is a metallic plate 9 that is of substantially the same dimensions as the plate 5 and is provided at its marginal edge with a continuous strip of rubber or the like it) that is channeled in the manner shown in Figure 4 to receive the marginal edge of the plate 9.

At the center thereof the plate 9 is provided with an opening I! and a depending flange 52 which latter telescopes within the flange 8 of the plate 5 as shown in Figure 4.

The flange l2 adjacent its lower edge is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed sockets l3 in which are spring pressed balls it that are normally urged outwardly to frictionally engage the flange 8 as shown in Figure 4 for securing the plate 9 against displacement relative to the plate 5.

The filled cushion or sack l5 which is identical in nearly all respects to the usual base now used in the game of baseball is provided and rests on the plate 9. For the filled sack or cushion l5 there is provided a cover member l6 that is made from canvas or other suitable material suitably cut, shaped and dimensioned to be folded over the cushion l5, and presenting pairs of tabs i'il'l and i8!8; one tab of each pair being provided with suitable straps i9 and the other tab of each pair being provided with suitable buckles 2% for cooperation with the straps I9 for securing the cover member It on the cushion l5.

In this connection it will be noted that the flaps l7 and I8 fold under the plate 9 so that the cover member Hi serves to retain the cushion 15 on the plate 9 and permits removal and placement of the cushion l5 and the plate 9 as a unit.

When the plate 9 and cushion l5 are removed leaving the plate 5 anchored to the ground the recess in the ground lined by the flange 8 serves as a storage pocket for balls or the like, and when so used the recess in the ground is covered by a metallic plate 2i provided for covering the opening 1. Plate 2! is provided with a suitable spring member 22 the respective opposite ends of which are adapted to bind against opposed sides of the flange 8 for releasably securing the plate 25 in position over the opening 1 when the base is not in actual use.

It is thought that from the foregoing a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of an invention of this character will be had without a more detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

1. In a baseball base of the character described, a plate provided with means for anchoring into the ground, said plate being also provided at the center thereof with an opening and a depending flange, said flange adapted to be positioned within a recess in the ground, a second plate adapted to be positioned over the first plate, said second plate being also provided at its center with an opening and a depending flange adapted to be disposed downwardly within the confines of the flange of the first plate, the flange of said second plate being provided with inwardly extending sockets, spring pressed balls engaged in said sockets and adapted to have frictional engagement with the flange of the first plate for releasably retaining the plates in assembled position, and a cushion member resting on the second plate.

2. In a baseball base of the character described, a plate provided with means for anchoring into the ground, said plate being also provided at the center thereof with an opening and a depending flange, said flange adapted. to be positioned Within a recess in the ground, a second plate adapted to be positioned over the first plate, said second plate being also provided at its center with an opening and a depending flange adapted to be disposed downwardly within the confines of the flange of the first plate, the flange of said second plate being provided with inwardly extending sockets, spring pressed balls engaged in said sockets and adapted to have frictional engagement with the flange of the first plate for releasably retaining the plates in assembled position, a cushion member resting on the second plate, and a cover member enveloping said cushion member and said second plate.

3. In a baseball base of the character described, a plate provided with means for anchoring into the ground, said plate being also provided atthe center thereof with an opening and a depending flange, said flange adapted to be positioned within a recess in the ground, a second plate adapted to be positioned over the first plate, said second plate being also provided at its center with an opening and a depending flange adapted to be disposed downwardly within the confines of the flange of the first plate, the flange of said second plate being provided with inwardly extending sockets, spring pressed balls engaged in said sockets and adapted to have frictional engagement with the flange of the first plate for releasably retaining the plates in assembled position, a cushion member resting on the second plate, a cover member enveloping said cushion member and said second plate, and a cover member for the opening in the first plate when the second plate is removed, and the last mentioned cover member having a spring associated therewith and adapted to frictionally engage the flange of the first plate for releasably securing said cover member in position over the opening in the first plate.

HERBERT E. OREFICE. 

